March 21, 2002
SAN DIEGO - Playing without All-American candidate Oliver Maiberger, San Diego State lost the final three singles matches as 71st-ranked Yale upset the 25th-ranked Aztecs 4-3 on Thursday afternoon at SDSU Courts.
San Diego State (7-7) played without, Maiberger, the 21st-ranked singles player and one-half of the third-ranked doubles tandem in the country, due to a viral infection.
"They played better than we did and that is all you can say," Aztec coach John Nelson said. "Our goal is the end of the season and trying to peak at the right time. We need to focus on playing better than this."
San Diego State claimed the doubles point when Ryan Redondo and Khalid Naffa claimed an 8-5 victory at number three doubles over Chris Shackelton and Ryan Cole.
The Aztecs and Bulldogs (10-3) split the first two singles matches with SDSU picking up a win via Travis Hasson in number four singles and Yale countering with a victory from Shackelton at number five singles.
San Diego State moved within one team point of victory when Mountain West Conference player of the week Ryan Redondo improved to 9-2 on the dual season with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Andrew Rosenfeld at number three singles.
But the Bulldogs responded by winning three tie-breakers and two three-set matches en route to claiming the final three singles matches. The Bulldogs' Johnny Lu pulled Yale within one point with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Naffa at number six singles.
Yale tied the team score when Ryan Murphy claimed a 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 win over Valentino Pest at number two singles. With all other matches complete and players and fans from both teams watching nearly the entire third set, Yale sealed the team victory when 42nd-ranked Steve Berke defeated Felix Hardt, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3.
San Diego State will be back in action this Saturday when the Aztecs play host to 61st-ranked Princeton at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Sante Fe, Calif. Match time is set for at noon.
No. 71 Yale 4, No. 25 San Diego State 3
Doubles (SDSU wins point)
No. 1 - No. 40 Steve Berke/Dustin West (Yale) def. Felix Hardt/Valentino Pest (SDSU) - 8-6
No. 2 - Travis Hasson/Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. Ryan Murphy/David Goldman (Yale) - 9-8
No. 3 - Ryan Redondo/Khalid Naffa (SDSU) def. Chris Shackelton/Ryan Cole (Yale) - 8-5
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
No. 1 - No. 42 Steve Berke (Yale) def. Felix Hardt (SDSU) - 7-6, 3-6, 6-3
No. 2 - Ryan Murphy (Yale) def. Valentino Pest (SDSU) - 7-6, 4-6, 6-2
No. 3 - Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. David Goldman (Yale) - 6-3, 7-5
No. 4 - Andrew Rosenfeld (Yale) def. Travis Hasson (SDSU) - 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 - Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. Chris Shackelton (Yale) - 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 - Johnny Lu (Yale) def. Khalid Naffa (SDSU) - 6-4, 7-6
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 3, 6, 2, 1
Clinched Match: 1
Records: SDSU (7-6), Yale (10-3)